Kate who? Monaco Royal Charlotte Casiraghi steals limelight from Duchess of Cambridge as she graces cover of Vogue

As the granddaughter of Grace Kelly and the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, Charlotte Casiraghi was always going to be a beauty. But with her natural instinct for style, a budget for couture and a career as an equestrian showjumper, it seems she could really show Britain's young Royals a thing or two.

Now the Monegasque Royal has scored one of the most prestigious coups in fashion - gracing the September issue cover of French Vogue.

The 25-year-old is pictured with tousled hair and smoky eyes in the image by Mario Testino, while inside shots show her in an array of pieces by Chanel, Balmain, Isabel Marant and Gucci to name a few.

Royal coup: Princess Caroline of Monaco's daughter Charlotte Casiraghi covers the new issue of French Vogue

Of course it is nothing new to see Miss Casiraghi in designer clothes - she is regularly spotted in the front row at Paris fashion week and appeared in Vanity Fair's Best Dressed list in 2006.

Her competitive riding kit is designed for her by Gucci and she edits her very own eco fashion magazine, Ever Manifesto, which counts Stella McCartney among its fans.

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Her social circle is also deeply immersed in the industry. One of her gallery owner boyfriend Alex Dellal's sisters is behind the footwear label Charlotte Olympia, while the other is model Alice.

Style rivals: While the Duchess of Cambridge (left) has been much praised for her fashion choices, Miss Casiraghi (right) has long had close links with the industry, and is a front row regular at Paris Fashion Week

Miss Casiraghi's cover marks a departure from French Vogue's usually edgy image, something that can no doubt be attributed to its new editor Emanuelle Alt, who succeeded Carine Roitfeld earlier this year.

The shoot also cements photographer Mario Testino's position as Vogue's favourite photographer, having taken the cover pictures for its three most important international editions.

In addition to Miss Casiraghi's cover, he shot Kate Moss for U.S. Vogue (and her wedding photographs inside), as well as Chanel face Freja Beha Erichsen who was a surprise choice for the cover of this month's British Vogue.

Hat trick: Mario Testino has shot the covers for Vogue's French, British (left) and American (right) editions

The glossy hat trick is even more significant given that they are the September issues, the most important month of the year for the magazine industry as it marks the beginning of the new, most lucrative season.

The only edition he is yet to shoot the cover of is Vogue Italia, as Steven Meisel has shot the title's past 329 covers. The magazine's editor, Franca Sozzani explained that it was so 'even if you took the word Italia off, you know what Vogue Italia is.'

Mr Testino is of course no stranger to shooting royals. He was a favourite with Princess Diana and also took the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official engagement photos.